Method for draining a medical device adapted to be implanted

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for draining a medical device ( 1 ) adapted to be implanted in a human or animal body, said medical device comprising a housing ( 11 ) that encloses a fluid reservoir ( 13 ), and a fluid outlet ( 12 ) that forms a fluid connection between the reservoir and a volume outside the housing, the method involving: —providing the device in packaging comprising a tank ( 2 ), the housing being held in the tank in a position in which the reservoir is located between the bottom of the tank and the fluid outlet; —filling the tank ( 2 ) with a biocompatible fluid such that a zone of the packaging which lies outside the medical device and is in fluid connection with the fluid outlet of the tank is immersed in the fluid; —draining the medical device and filling the reservoir ( 13 ) with the biocompatible fluid.

1 . A method for draining a medical device adapted to be implanted in a human or animal body, the medical device comprising a casing enclosing a fluid reservoir and a fluid outlet forming a fluid connection between the reservoir and a volume external to the casing, comprising:
 providing the device in a packaging comprising a tank, the casing being held in the tank in a position in which the reservoir is positioned between the bottom of the tank and the fluid outlet,   filling the tank with a biocompatible fluid, so that a zone of the packaging external to the medical device which is in fluid connection with the fluid outlet of the reservoir is immersed in the fluid,   draining the medical device by filling the reservoir with the biocompatible fluid and discharging the air present in the reservoir to the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of checking horizontality of the bottom of the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said checking is based on a horizontality indicator of the fluid level in the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said checking of horizontality is performed by means of an accelerometer of the medical device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the tank is immersed in a container filled with a fluid to obtain horizontality of the bottom of the tank. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of draining the medical device is performed by moving a movable wall of the tank to vary a volume of the reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said movement of the movable wall of the reservoir is performed by an electromechanical actuator arranged in the casing. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises a single fluid outlet and a single fluid connection between the reservoir and said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is adapted to control an occlusion of a natural duct of the human or animal body. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of an artificial sphincter, an artificial muscle, an electrical stimulator, a gastric band, a neurostimulator, and a penile implant.